WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988
11
"PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE BILL AND THE CONSTITUTION THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO OVERSEE SELF-REGULATION SCHEME AND THE NEW COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS.
OF
THE
"THE GOVERNMENT WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INTISTRY IN IMPLEMENTING THE VARIOUS MEASURES.
1
MR NENDICK EXPLAINED THAT THE PROPOSALS FOR SELF-REGULATION WERE ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AFTER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ENDORSED THE MAJOR PRINCIPLES OF THE POLICY. THESE MEASURES WERE DESIGNED TO MEET THREE OBJECTIVES:
*
FIRST, TO INTRODUCE SELF-REGULAION OF THE OUTBOUND TRAVEL INDUSTRY WITH LIMITED GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT:
SECONDLY, TO REPLACE THE TRAVEL AGENTS' RESERVE FUND WITH A NEW COMPENSATION SCHEME TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY OFFERING THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC A DEGREE OF PROTECTION; AND
THIRDLY, ΤΟ SETTLE THE OUTSTANDING CLAIMS AGAINST THE TRAVEL AGENTS' RESERVE FUND.
"SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL NUMBER OF TRAVEL AGENTS HAVE DEFAULTED DUE TO OR THE ABSCONDMENT OF THEIR OWNERS, HE SAID.
T
ORDINANCE FINANCIAL
IN 1985, A DIFFICULTIES
"THE PROVISIONS IN THE ORDINANCE COMPENSATION HAVE PROVED TO BE INADEQUATE.
CONCERNING
EX-GRATIA
"ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONSULTATION THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL OF HONG KONG WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT 50 PER CENT OF ALL LICENSED TRAVEL AGENTS AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUTBOUND TOUR ORGANISERS, COMMENCED A REVIEW OF THE ORDINANCE.
+
COMPENSATION
THE REVIEW FOCUSSED, IN PARTICULAR, ON THE ARRANGEMENTS AND ON THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF REGULATION UF THE OUTBOUND TRAVEL INDUSTRY.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRAVEL AGENTS, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD ROC GROUP ON THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE ALSO GAVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE MATTER.
THE
INTRODUCTION
THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT
OF SELF-REGULATION WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE MEANS OF ENCOURAGING BETTER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
PRINCIPAL
MR NENDICK SAID CLAUSE FOUR OF THE BILL AMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE, AS A STATUTORY CONDITION OF LICENCE, THAT ANY PERSON WHO WISHED TO PROVIDE OUTBOUND TRAVEL SERVICES SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF AN "APPROVED ORGANISATION".
THE TRAVEL